About

Why Choose Us

Orange Squid is a premium consulting firm with extensive experience and expertise in Strategy, Innovation, and Change. We are a deliberately small firm and your experience working with us will likely be different from your experiences of working with other consultants (we know because we’ve worked in some of the ‘traditional-style’ consultancies ourselves – we’ve seen how the ‘sausages are made!’). 

Here’s how we’re different:

Typical Consulting Firm

Orange Squid

Typical Consulting Firm

The senior consultant, partner or director who comes in during the initial meeting and ‘sprinkles the fairy dust’ is rarely seen when it comes to doing the work. You get stuck with the Junior.
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Orange Squid

We don’t hire juniors. The Partner or Senior Consultant you meet, with all their demonstrated expertise and experience, is the consultant who will be hands on with your project.

Typical Consulting Firm

A cookie-cutter method or framework is applied and then they pretend that every organisation magically needs exactly the same approach.
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Orange Squid

We work bespoke. Of course, we use only cutting-edge, best-practice, robust and proven methodologies in our approach, but we understand that to ensure success, the context is as important as the methods.

Typical Consulting Firm

You get one consultant with one area of expertise and get quite one-dimensional advice.
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Orange Squid

Our whole team works across all of our projects. For example, you’ll always have an expert Organisational Psychologist on your strategy project; an expert Researcher on your innovation project; and an expert Strategist on your change program.

Typical Consulting Firm

The consultants use hopelessly outdated methods for strategy development, product development, and for driving growth.
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Orange Squid

Our IP evolves at a rate which ensures we stay ahead of the constantly changing environments in which our clients operate. We’re not applying methods in the same ways we did 5 years ago because what worked 5 years ago is going to leave a lot of value on the table in today’s world.

Typical Consulting Firm

The consultant(s) rock up to meetings and workshops without (much) preparation and you don’t end up with truly tangible output. But you do get lots of ‘great discussion’ and things ‘to think about’
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Orange Squid

The reason our sessions deliver genuinely measurable and actionable outputs every time, is that we understand the value in meticulous preparation. When the right amount of preparation is coupled with extensive facilitation experience and expertise, tangible results follow.

What is working with Orange Squid really like?

Well, we do have the expertise, credentials, and experience to deliver serious value, but we’re fun to work with too (even if we do say so ourselves)!

We really have ditched our egos and decided to focus on work we love to do, which stimulates us. But don’t just take our word for it, here’s what some of our clients have to say.

Here are some testimonials from our clients

The way we work with our clients is very much in a partnership model. We’re hands-on, because the best outcomes are always achieved when we all work together as one team.

We are equally comfortable – and have a proven track record of success – working closely with the Executive team; and with your newest recruits in the Grad program (and everyone in-between).

Metro Tunnel Logo

“Orange Squid was incredibly engaging to work with, sharing many interesting insights and experiences to illustrate best practice methods. The feedback from the team was overwhelmingly positive, leaving them feeling inspired and motivated. I would highly recommend Mark, Astrid and the team at Orange Squid.”

- Katie Laird

Melbourne Metro Tunnel Project

RMIT University Logo

“The Orange Squid team brought some real intellectual rigour to the process and challenged us to think differently about getting insights. And most importantly they worked collaboratively with the team to up-skill them in best practices and to think differently, whilst also making the whole process commercially rewarding and enjoyable.”

- Lynda Cavalera

RMIT University

MIRVAC Logo in Colour

“Orange Squid has a passion that is infectious. As a team, their skills are highly complementary. Mark brings expertise in competitive strategy and the technical aspects of innovation. He is a highly engaging story-teller and trainer, and has been very successful in conveying the impetus for innovation and compelling audiences to action. Astrid brings valuable insight as an organisational psychologist. By understanding the complexity of effecting change within the culture of an established organisation, she has been able to provide advice through challenging situations as the foundation for the program was laid, and then gradually embedded. They have been involved at every level of the business – from interns to the executive leadership. By making complex concepts digestible and simple, they are able to cut through and inspire employees in the business to make a direct impact that adds value. I have always found Orange Squid to be professional, reliable and to consistently produce high quality work. It has been a pleasure working with them.”

- Christine Gilroy

Mirvac

Griffith Hack

“Astrid’s presentation on ‘Building a Highly Innovative Organisation and Culture’ to the principals of our Firm was very well received. She was engaging, enthusiastic and motivating – not an easy task, as the last speaker of the day. The presentation proved to be very insightful and most importantly included practical tools that could be applied in the workplace on a day-to-day basis.”

- David Madigan

Griifith Hack

Coles Logo

“The team was given the challenge of how the customer benefits of Coles Financial Services and flybuys could be aligned to create unparalleled value. To solve this, Mark and Astrid helped us uncover innovative synergies and then prioritise our next steps. Their approach was consultative and outcome focused. I highly recommend their work.”

- Jonathon Ryam

Coles

Monash University Logo in Colour

“There are 2 types of consulting firms, those flattering your ego and those helping you address your most challenging issues. Orange Squid is one of the latter. The balance of capabilities and the dynamic between Astrid, Mark and Trish result in a surgical assessment of the challenges, a documented development of options and an innovative decision process. Always one step ahead, Orange Squid delivers the extra service and advice that will position your executive team in the best situation to perform.”

- David Suder

Monash University

BP Logo

“Orange Squid provides a process which can empower people to solve material challenges within any organisation. With meticulous research and convergent/divergent lead thinking, the Orange Squid team can tap into a collective creative that breaks through group think and generates highly valuable outcomes.”

- Will Smibert

BP

Orange Squid Senior Partners

Senior Partner: Strategy & Innovation

Mark Hawkins

Description

Helping organisations to innovate and grow has been the focus of Mark’s entire career. In addition to completing a Masters’ Degree at the University of Melbourne (First Class Hons), Mark is an Oxford graduate (Strategy & Innovation) who has also completed the Competitive Strategy Program (BSCA) at Harvard Business School. His recent postgraduate dissertation, which was awarded a distinction at the University of Oxford, focused on commercializing innovations in established, complex organisations.

Mark has worked extensively in strategy development, innovation, and organisational transformation through working closely with senior management teams in some of the world’s most successful companies. He has delivered keynotes and workshops across the globe in the USA, UK, throughout SE Asia, India and in every state of Australia.

Mark is passionate about developing innovation and growth strategies that deliver results. With a background in both strategy consulting and innovation consulting, Mark has seen strategy, innovation and growth programs soak up resources over extended time, with limited tangible value being delivered. Through Orange Squid, he ensures that things are different!

As soon as you meet Mark, you can’t escape his passion for delivering tangible results. In his spare time, he flies light aircraft, dives in caves and on shipwrecks, plays the drums and studies, lots!

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Organisational Psychologist & Senior Partner: Innovation & Change

Astrid Snippe

Description

Astrid is an Organisational Psychologist and (together with Mark) is the co-founder of Orange Squid. The research that underpinned her Master’s degree in Organisational Psychology focused on organisational culture, innovation and decision-making processes in organisations. Astrid continued her postgraduate studies at the London School of Economics where she focused on innovation and entrepreneurship in organisations. These critical areas of focus have played a central role throughout Astrid’s career in Australia, as well as in the Netherlands.

Astrid has worked with some of the world’s leading organisations in a large variety of industries where she has driven organisational cultural change that delivers growth through innovation. After Astrid’s research revealed the key elements which typically underpin high performance innovation cultures, her desire for delivering holistic approaches to organisational change grew significantly. Astrid has become extremely passionate about developing cultures in which innovation can thrive, in a way that supports the very specific strategies and structures of Orange Squid’s clients.

In her spare time Astrid loves to drink great coffee with her friends (and lots of it – there is no such thing as too much coffee for the Dutch!); spending time in Europe to catch up with family; seeking adventure in places all over the world; and researching!

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Orange Squid Senior Partners

Senior Manager: Research

Trish Prentice

Description

Trish is a highly skilled and experienced researcher who specialises in exploratory research at Orange Squid. She has worked (and in addition to her work at Orange Squid, continues to work) as a researcher at Melbourne University, as well as in a Senior Researcher role at the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute.

With a Master’s degree in Law (from Melbourne University), a degree in Education, and professional accreditation from the Research Society, Trish brings extraordinary research

expertise and breadth of knowledge to every project. Trish has worked in Geneva at the International Service for Human Rights, at the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection, and as a Legal Case Officer at the Migration Review Tribunal.

Trish is a keen road cyclist, as well as a dedicated reader and writer of fiction. It’s fair to say she enjoys travelling too, given that she has visited 47 countries!

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Mark Hawkins, Founder of Orange Squid

Senior Partner: Strategy & Innovation

Mark Hawkins

Description

Helping organisations to innovate and grow has been the focus of Mark’s entire career. In addition to completing a Masters’ Degree at the University of Melbourne (First Class Hons), Mark is an Oxford graduate (Strategy & Innovation) who has also completed the Competitive Strategy Program (BSCA) at Harvard Business School. His recent postgraduate dissertation, which was awarded a distinction at the University of Oxford, focused on commercializing innovations in established, complex organisations.

Mark has worked extensively in strategy development, innovation, and organisational transformation through working closely with senior management teams in some of the world’s most successful companies. He has delivered keynotes and workshops across the globe in the USA, UK, throughout SE Asia, India and in every state of Australia.

Mark is passionate about developing innovation and growth strategies that deliver results. With a background in both strategy consulting and innovation consulting, Mark has seen strategy, innovation and growth programs soak up resources over extended time, with limited tangible value being delivered. Through Orange Squid, he ensures that things are different!

As soon as you meet Mark, you can’t escape his passion for delivering tangible results. In his spare time, he flies light aircraft, dives in caves and on shipwrecks, plays the drums and studies, lots!

Astrid Snippe, Founder of Orange Squid

Organisational Psychologist & Senior Partner: Innovation & Change

Astrid Snippe

Description

Astrid is an Organisational Psychologist and (together with Mark) is the co-founder of Orange Squid. The research that underpinned her Master’s degree in Organisational Psychology focused on organisational culture, innovation and decision-making processes in organisations. Astrid continued her postgraduate studies at the London School of Economics where she focused on innovation and entrepreneurship in organisations. These critical areas of focus have played a central role throughout Astrid’s career in Australia, as well as in the Netherlands.

Astrid has worked with some of the world’s leading organisations in a large variety of industries where she has driven organisational cultural change that delivers growth through innovation. After Astrid’s research revealed the key elements which typically underpin high performance innovation cultures, her desire for delivering holistic approaches to organisational change grew significantly. Astrid has become extremely passionate about developing cultures in which innovation can thrive, in a way that supports the very specific strategies and structures of Orange Squid’s clients.

In her spare time Astrid loves to drink great coffee with her friends (and lots of it – there is no such thing as too much coffee for the Dutch!); spending time in Europe to catch up with family; seeking adventure in places all over the world; and researching!

Trish Prentice from Orange Squid

Senior Manager: Research

Trish Prentice

Description

Trish is a highly skilled and experienced researcher who specialises in exploratory research at Orange Squid. She has worked (and in addition to her work at Orange Squid, continues to work) as a researcher at Melbourne University, as well as in a Senior Researcher role at the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute.

With a Master’s degree in Law (from Melbourne University), a degree in Education, and professional accreditation from the Research Society, Trish brings extraordinary research

expertise and breadth of knowledge to every project. Trish has worked in Geneva at the International Service for Human Rights, at the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection, and as a Legal Case Officer at the Migration Review Tribunal.

Trish is a keen road cyclist, as well as a dedicated reader and writer of fiction. It’s fair to say she enjoys travelling too, given that she has visited 47 countries!